New partnership enables Ducks Unlimited and Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams to collaborate on the land management of 1,000 acres at Baker University Wetlands.
Baker University announced a new agreement with Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) to manage the Baker University Wetlands—nearly 1,000 acres of highly biodiverse upland and riparian habitat that includes over 600 acres of wetlands.
Recognizing the Baker University Wetlands’ importance to the community, landscape, and region, DU and KAWS approached Baker University about collaborating on the services and care the area requires. The partnership included hiring a full-time director with wetland management experience and providing internal support from DU’s highly skilled wetland and wildlife biologists, land managers, fundraisers, and engineers. Additionally, KAWS will bring their local watershed protection personnel and staff trained in resource interpretation to the Baker University Wetlands partnership.
“The Baker University Wetlands hold immense potential as an even more important ecological resource. We are excited to partner with KAWS and the Baker University Wetlands to restore this valuable habitat and ensure its continued health and beauty for generations to come. This is a win-win for our organizations, the community, and the wildlife that call it home,” said Matt Hough, manager of conservation programs in Kansas for DU.
The Baker University Wetlands is an important asset and extension of the Baldwin City, Kansas, campus community. Baker University widely supports conservation beyond the Baker University Wetlands. The Baldwin City campus is a registered arboretum, and the university has been named a Tree Campus USA since 2011, further showcasing its commitment to environmental conservation and tree care, and providing students unique opportunities to learn outside of the classroom in natural environments. This designation by the Arbor Day Foundation highlights the university’s ongoing efforts to engage students and staff in maintaining a healthy and sustainable campus environment.
“The Baker University Wetlands is a living classroom for me and my students—a true extension of our campus. It is an exceptional educational resource among small colleges in the region and has for decades been an important asset for our faculty and students to teach and learn in a dynamic and engaging environment,” said Dr. Scott Kimball, associate professor of biology. “The landscape provides unparalleled experiences for our faculty, staff, and students who use the space for science labs, research projects, and recreational engagement with nature. We look forward to the new partnership with DU and KAWS providing additional rich experiences for our students and faculty who are engaged in ecological, environmental, and natural resources coursework and research.”
A well-known hotspot among bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Baker University Wetlands has endured aging infrastructure issues and challenging habitat conditions in recent years. Notably, the inability to move water efficiently and effectively has contributed to an increase in invasive plant communities and a decrease in overall suitable acres of wetland habitat for wildlife. Restoration will include embankment construction, installation of new water control structures, as well as borrowing and grading to help equalize water levels and restore run-off, thereby providing managers with the ability to promote desirable, moist-soil vegetation via timely flood and drawdown practices.
New Baker University Wetlands Director Andrew Rutter has served as KAWS’ Upper Wakarusa Watershed coordinator in recent years and comes to his new position with 12 years of experience managing wildlife and wetlands in the Midwest. Rutter earned a B.S. in biology from Emporia State University in 2013 and an M.S. in forestry with an emphasis on wildlife ecology from Southern Illinois University in 2017. Rutter looks forward to applying his experience as a land manager to inform ecologically sound management at the Baker University Wetlands and this new partnership with the DU and KAWS organizations.
“KAWS is excited to partner with DU and Baker University Wetlands to further the goals of the Baker University Wetlands and the region as a whole. This site has a rich legacy of staff, volunteers, and students devoted to habitat management and environmental education, and we hope to add Andrew’s expertise to that list through his actions as director,” said Libby Albers, director of the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams.
The new partnership seeks to build collaborations with community leadership and conservation organizations to enhance opportunities for conservation and educational opportunities.
Working together to improve the Baker University Wetlands will help connect people with the waters and lands of Kansas, allow DU and the KAWS to promote other work on locally relevant conservation projects, and increase the understanding of and improvement of Kansas’ water resources.
For those interested in learning more about how to financially support the Baker University Wetlands, volunteer, or just ask general questions about the area, contact Andrew Rutter at 785.594.4700 or andrew.rutter@bakerU.edu.
About the Baker University Wetlands
One of the most diverse habitats in Kansas, the Baker University Wetlands encompasses 927 acres of rich, natural wildlife. Students, faculty, and nature lovers have identified 278 species of birds, 98 other vertebrate species, and 487 plant species at the Wetlands—and these counts grow with each adventure. Further, this exceptional environment gives students the unique opportunity for increased exploration and education about biological and ecological processes. Learn more at bakerU.edu/wetlands.
About the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams
Organized in 1996, KAWS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is “Connecting the waters, lands, and people of Kansas.” KAWS works to fulfill its mission by collaborating with a diverse group of watershed stakeholders, organizations, non-profits, and government entities to improve sustainability of watershed systems and ecosystems, impacting Kansas’ soil, water, ecological, and human health. KAWS provides Kansas-wide coverage for watershed, innovative agriculture, wildlife, wetland, and riparian conservation projects. Learn more at kaws.org.
About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at ducks.org.
